I Thought I Knew Poem by Chris Embrick

I thought I knew what hurting meant
until I saw the scars
of so many young amputees
returning home from war

I thought I knew true loneliness
and a heart slow to mend
until I met a widow
who lost
her soul mate and only friend

I thought I knew what love meant
until I met a selfless soul
who gave her last piece of bread
to a homeless man out in the cold

Each time I thought I knew my heart
my soul put my heart in check
and showed me a hurting world
of suffering and neglect

It's been a humble lesson
but now I understand
that on the shores of human misery
I'm just a grain of sand.